2025 NBA Free Agents Rumors and Predictions for Kyrie Irving, Jonathan Kuminga, More
The 2025 NBA offseason pool is getting a little crowded.
The Memphis Grizzlies joined the squads already on summer vacation with their 0-4 first-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it sure looks like they'll be joined soon by the Miami Heat, who have dropped their first three contests with the Cleveland Cavaliers by an average of 22.3 points.
More teams will be thrown into offseason mode sooner than later, which makes this the perfect time to take stock of what could be coming in free agency. That's especially true since the rumor mill is already rumbling, so we're here to break down that buzz and predict what it might mean for the players involved.
New Deal Coming for Kyrie in Dallas?
1 of 3
Kyrie Irving is a 33-year-old with a fairly detailed injury history who's currently recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March. One might assume, then, that it would be a no-brainer for him to pick up the $44 million player option he holds for next season, per Spotrac.
However, NBA insider Marc Stein relayed that "rumbles of a new three-year deal for Irving were fairly commonplace before the [Luka] Dončić trade," and given Dallas' need for a star guard to pair with Anthony Davis, it seems almost certain that the Mavs' plans haven't changed.
Dallas general manager Nico Harrison has a "fondness" for Irving, per Stein, and the executive hasn't exactly hidden that admiration. When Harrison recently stated his belief that the Mavs are "bringing back...a championship-caliber team," he added that, "We fully expect to have Kyrie back with us next year."
The method by which Irving sticks around might be all there is to decide, then, but if Dallas believes he is an integral part of its championship plan, then it surely wants more than a single-season commitment. Look for Irving to decline his player option, and the Mavs to welcome back on a longer deal shortly thereafter.
Prediction: Irving re-signs with Dallas on a three-year deal with a player option on the final season.
Nets Eyeing Jonathan Kuminga?
2 of 3
While the Golden State Warriors spent the No. 7 pick of the 2021 draft on Jonathan Kuminga, their commitment to his development hasn't always been the clearest. He has generally operated as a reserve and not a starter through his first four NBA seasons, and recently lost his rotation spot only to be thrust back into duty by Jimmy Butler's injury.
With restricted free agency awaiting Kuminga, his future with the franchise has never seemed less certain. And that might be music to the ears of the Brooklyn Nets, who have "long loomed as a potential suitor" for Kuminga, per NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
The Nets, who've lost 106 games over the past two seasons combined, don't face the same win-right-now pressure as the Stephen Curry-led Dubs. So, it should be significantly easier for them to find developmental minutes (and touches) for Kuminga than it's been for Golden State.
The Warriors might still want to get something in return for Kuminga, setting up the possibility of a sign-and-trade. Since Brooklyn has boatloads of cap space, though, the Nets don't necessarily need to play ball. The Warriors will have the right to match whatever offer Kuminga signs, but the Nets could at least make them think twice with an aggressive offer featuring less-than-friendly terms for the signing team.
Prediction: Kuminga is sign-and-traded from the Warriors to the Nets.
Bulls Hoping to Keep Josh Giddey?
3 of 3
The Chicago Bulls entered last offseason with one of the league's best assets in Alex Caruso, a dynamic defender who could fill multiple roles on the offensive end. Their willingness to cash in that trade chip for Josh Giddey was telling, since they knew the 6'8" playmaker had only one season left on his rookie contract.
Chicago, of course, also had some control over Giddey's future with restricted free agency awaiting him, but it might still be noteworthy that the price tag on said free agency likely spiked over the season's final stretch. That's when Giddey embarked on a sizzling run during which he averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 rebounds while posting a 50/45.7/80.9 slash line in 19 outings after the All-Star break.
Was Giddey so good that he priced himself out of Chicago's future? Uh, no, it certainly doesn't sound like it.
"I think he fits really well here," Bulls executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas told reporters, "and I hope to see him here for the next years to come. ... I feel really good about Josh and his future here."
The Bulls could lean on their leverage and let Giddey test the market, knowing they have the power to match whatever offer he finds from the few teams with cap space to spare. But knowing this front office—the same one that gave Patrick Williams a five-year, $90 million deal last summer—and its particular affinity for Giddey, Chicago seems less likely to take that route than it is to just give him a bloated deal before he hits the "open" market.
Prediction: Bulls give Giddey a five-year deal.
.png?w=480)
